Michael O’Neill: How will he reconcile Northern Ireland and Blackburn Rovers?

O’Neill was brought to Blackburn to save the club from relegation to League One for the first time since 2018.

However, success with his club could cause problems on the international stage.

O’Neill has consistently spoken of having Northern Ireland players playing at the highest level, but a significant number of players will face O’Neill Rovers to avoid relegation.

At Sheffield Wednesday, who looked doomed after their points were deducted earlier in the season, goalkeeper Pierce Charles has been positive in a difficult and injury-plagued year.

At the top of the table, there is a strong Northern Ireland side in Oxford United, with Brodie Spencer, Jimmy Donnelly, Jimmy McDonnell and Ciaron Brown.

One point behind Blackburn, Terry Devlin’s Portsmouth are also at risk, while Isaac Price, who was a key player for O’Neill with Northern Ireland, is far from safe at West Brom.

However, for O’Neill, he said he had “no blood on my hands” and that the fate of those clubs rested with their managers.

“At the end of the day, my job is to do my best for Blackburn Rovers,” he said.

“The players who manage these clubs, their job is to do the best for their clubs as well. I don’t think this is a problem at all.”